Means for assisting in the mooring of zeppelins and the like



March 6, 1934. N. STATHAM MEANS FOR ASSISTINQ: IN THE 'IOORING OFZEPPELINS AND THE LIKE Filed NOV; 27, 1931 M ATTORNEY I Patented Mar. 6,1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BIEANS FOR ASSISTING IN THE MOORING OFZEIPELINS AND THE LIKE 6 Claims.

My present invention relates to methods and apparatus for assisting inthe securing or mooring of lighter-than-air air-ships, such aszeppelins, blimps, balloons and the like and aims to 6 devise means ofthe general character specified which are simple in construction, whichmay be easily and conveniently fabricated and assembled, and which arehighly convenient and successful in use, the methods being characterizedby their ease and convenience in practice, their simplicity andaccuracy, and their uniform success when used by moderately skilledpersons. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will, inpart, be pointed out in detail 16 hereinafter and will, in part, beobvious to those skilled in the art to which the present inventionrelates.

In the accompanying specification I have described, and in the annexeddrawing more or less diagrammatically exemplified, several illustrativeembodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present invention. Itis, however, to be clearly understood that my invention is not limitedto the specific embodiments thereof 26 herein shown and described forpurposes of illustration, nor is the apparatus necessarily restricted toits use with the aforesaid illustrative embodiments of the methods, norare such illustrative embodiments of the methods necessarily restrictedto their use with the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of theapparatus.

Referring to the aforesaid illustrative embodiments of the methods andapparatus of the present invention, and with particular reference to thedrawing illustrating same:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the present invention asused in connection with a zeppelin or blimp which makes use of the same;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawing;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus taken at right angles to theside elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a por- 4 tion of said apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken through the centerof a portion of the apparatus; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail plan view of one form of grappling meanswhich may successfully be used with the aforesaid illustrativeembodiments of the methods and apparatus of the present invention.

Before describing in detail the aforesaid illustrative embodiments ofthe methods and apparatus of the present invention, it may be desirablebriefiy to refer to the prior art in the field to which the presentinvention belongs. Heretofore, it has been customary, in assisting inthe securing or mooring of lighter-than-air air-ships, such aszeppelins, blimps, balloons and the like,

to suspend from such an air-ship a rope carrying an anchor or othersuitable weight. Enough rope would be let out from the air-ship topermit the anchor or other weight to drag upon or near the ground, whereit would be seized by the members of a large crew and then the airshipwould be led to the hanger or other place where it is to be moored.

This arrangement, which works passably enough when it is intended tosecure or moor the air-ship to a place near to the ground, will, in thefirst place, not be suitable where it is necessary to restrict greatlythe area within which the air-ship must be secured, as in cities, 76 oreven still more, where it is desired to secure or moor such an air-shipto the tower or other portion of a high city building, such as a modernskyscraper. Here, it has been customary to permit the rope carrying ahook, anchor 80 or other weight to be suspended from the airship and todirect the flight of the air-ship towards the skyscraper or othersuitable structure where are located one or more persons with hooks orother means for seizing the rope. Here, due 86 to the variety of aircurrent resulting from the chasm-like streets, it has been found verydifficult to direct the air-ship close enough to the tower of theskyscraper or the like to permit the operators there to seize the ropecarrying the 90 hook, anchor or other weight. Often, many timeconsumingand otherwise expensive efforts must be made and sometimes none of theseefforts, however troublesome and expensive, are successful.

I have discovered a new method and correspondingly new means for easilyeffecting the securing or mooring of such an air-ship. For this purpose,the air-ship, as it approaches the tower of the skyscraper to which itis desired to secure or moor it, is directed either against or with thewind so as to avoid, as far as possible, those side currents which wouldmake its control very difficult. Carried by the skyscraper are aplurality of angularly disposed arms which are preferably rotatable in asubstantially horizontal plane. This permits the plane in which theangularly disposed arms are located to be rotatable into a positionsubstantially at right angles to the line or direction to which theair-ship is approaching the tower. It may here be stated that such anangle should be chosen for the arms as will facilitate the sliding ofthe light lead line afterwards referred to easily on one arm or theother towards the junction or intersection of the arms where the lightlead line may be seized or grappled in the manner afterwards describedin detail.

As the air-ship approaches the target, say, within three, four or fivehundred feet, the light lead line carrying a suitable weight is shotfrom the air-ship. Many methods may be used for doing this, either apistol gun or some other suitable means, and either spring means orpneumatic means or any other suitable means may be used for projectingthe light lead line. It may here be stated that the line is so aimed asto lie within the angle between the adjusted angularly disposed armsreferred to.

The result of this operation is that the line, carrying the weight onits outer end, and being assumed to be sufliciently long to have itsweighted end pass beyond the angularly disposed arms, but within theangle defined by such arms, falls on to one arm or the other and thus,due to the angular position of such arms, slides to a point adjacent theintersection of said arms. Here, let us assume that there is an openingor other suitable means through which a grappling hook may be passed.The grappling hook should preferably be so made as to include aplurality of hook members which are spring-expansible, or otherwisesuitably arranged, so as to receive readily between them the light leadline which may now be seized by the operator and drawn in. The lightlead line, of course, is attached at the end which is on the air-ship toa heavy mooring or securing line, which is quickly drawn into the targetand the air-ship thus securely fastened to the tower, a mechanicallyoperate winch being used for this purpose.

This completes the description of the aforesaid illustrative embodimentof the methods of the present invention. It will be noted that themethod is easy and convenient to practice, is exceedingly simple, quiteaccurate, and lends itself to uniform and immediate success in securingor mooring lighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps,balloons and the like. The usual hit-and-miss methods employed in thepast are obviated and a tremendous saving in time, and thus in cost, isreadily effected.

Referring now to the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the apparatusof the present invention, and assuming, for example, that the air-shipis to be attached to the tower of a modern skyscraper, such, forexample, as in New York, to the tower of the Empire State Building, 10indicates the tower of the building, having the cupola 11 embodying thegirders 12 and 13 which carry the target 14 comprising the apparatus ofthe present invention. While various types of apparatus may be employedwhich are satisfactory for the purposes of the present invention, Iprefer to use an apparatus of the general character shown in the drawingand comprising, for example, a collar or thimble 15, which has theflanges 16 and 17, defining between them the space 18, in which rotatesa ring or annulus 19, which carries the arms 20 and 21, which areangularly disposed with relation to each other.

The ring or annulus 15 may be fixedly secured on the flange portion 17within the flanged portions 22 and 23 of the girders 12 and 13. The ringor annulus 19 may be rotatably located within the channel space 18 ofthe ring or annulus 15. While not here shown, I may provide suitablegear for rotating the arms 20 and 21. It may here further be stated thatthe arms 20 and 21 may be disposed at substantially a right angle, theone to the other, or any other suitable angle which will make it certainthat the light lead line shot from the air-ship towards the target 14will slide quickly down arm 20 or arm 21, as the case may be, on to theannulus 15 in position to be seized by any suitable grappling meanswhich may be used.

At 24 in Fig. 6 of the drawing, are illustrated grappling means whichmay, for example, comprise the spring hooks 25 and 26, having the innerhooked ends 27 and 28, and which includes the handle or supportingmember 29 and the lower manipulating portion 30. The apparatus referredto may, if desired, be present within the opening 31 of the annulus 15,in which case, the inner hook portions 27 and 28 of the hook members 25and 26, respectively, and such hook members themselves will be presentabove the upper surface of the annulus 15, between the angle definedbetween the arms 20 and 21, such hook members 25 and 26 being made ofspring metal and being ordinarily distended, the one from the other, andbeing disposed, with respect to each other, at approximately an angle ofabout 90.

The air-ship, here generally designated by reference character 32, maycomprise a zeppelin, blimp, balloon or the like and is here shown as azeppelin or blimp having the gas bag 33, the rudder 34 and the carriage35, which may contain the motors, accommodations for passengers, and thelike. Within the carriage 35 is a light lead line, generally designatedby reference character 36, which carries at its free end the weight 37and at its inner end may be secured to a heavier mooring or securingline 38. The airship also contains any suitable means, such as a gun,revolver or the like, which may be operated either by spring or othersuitable mechanical means, or by pneumatic pressure, for firing thelight lead line 36, carrying the weight 37, between the arms 20 and 21of the target 14.

This completes the description of the construction of the aforesaidillustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Itsoperation will, it is believed, be reasonably clear from the foregoingdescription, but may be briefly summarized as follows: As he approachesthe mooring point, the navigator of the air-ship 32 manipulates the sameso that it will move either directly into the wind, or with the wind,towards the target 14. The operator having charge of the target 14rotates the arms 20 and 21 so that the plane in which they lie will besubstantially perpendicular or normal to the direction to which theair-ship is approaching the target.

The person on the air-ship having charge of the light lead line 36 andthe heavier mooring line 38, together with the projecting means, whichwill hold the light lead line 36 carrying the weight 37, now takescareful aim at the target 14 so as to permit the line 36 carrying theweight 3'7 at its forward end, to pass between the arms 20 and 21. Thelight lead line 36 will fall, therefore, on either the arm 20 or the arm21. These arms being so angularly disposed with respect to each other asto cause the light lead line 36 quickly to slide towards the annulus 15,the rope 36 will pass between the hook members 25 and 26. Thereupon, theoperator may pull the grappling member down by means of the manipulatingporiSU tion 30 attached to the supporting portion 29, and thus seizehold of the light lead line 36.

Said line carrying at its end nearer the airship the heavier mooring orsecuring rope 38, the continued hauling in of the light lead line 36will soon bring the heavier mooring or securing line 38 within reach.The line 38 may be hauled in by a mechanically operated winch 39. Theair-ship may thereafter be moored or secured by the suitablemanipulation of the heavier line 38 and the task is completed.Thereafter, by suitable means, such as rope ladders and the like,passengers, mail, baggage and freight may be discharged from theair-ship 32 in a most convenient and expeditious manner.

This completes the description of the operation and use of the aforesaidillustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Itwill be noted that the air-ship may thus be readily and convenientlymoored or secured with comparative ease. The apparatus for doing thiswill be found to be altogether simple in construction, easy andconvenient to fabricate and assemble, and highly convenient andsuccessful in use. By its use, many economies may be affected,

,which should greatly increase the use of such air-ships for thetransportation and delivery of passengers, baggage, freight and mail inthe very heart of large cities, where hitherto their use for thispurpose has been inconvenient and unsuccessful.

Other superiorities and advantages of the apparatus of the presentinvention will readily occur to persons skilled in the art to which thepresent invention relates. It may here be stated that the arms 20 and 21may be so arranged as to be permitted to be brought into close positionwhen not in use, that is, these arms may be moved into close verticalposition by any suitable gearing or other moving mechanism when not inuse, rather than kept spread apart at an angle of about 90 degrees, aswhen required for mooring the lighter-than-air airship.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularlylighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, ballons and thelike, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a target, meanscomprising a plurality of angularly disposed arms associated with saidtarget for directing a. line projected adjacent said target to anopening for receiving the line, and means passing into said opening forgrappling said line.

2. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularlylighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and thelike, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a rotatable target,means comprising a plurality of angularly disposed arms associated withsaid target for directing a line projected adjacent said target to anopening for receiving the line, and means passing into said opening forgrappling said line.

3. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularlylighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and thelike, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a target, meansassociated with said target for directing a line projected adjacent saidtarget to an opening for receiving the line, and means comprising aplurality of spring-expansible grappling arms passing into said openingfor grappling said line.

4. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularlylighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and thelike, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a rotatable target,means associated with said target for directing a line projectedadjacent said target to an opening for receiving the line, and meanscomprising a plurality of spring-expansible grappling arms passing intosaid opening for grappling said line.

5. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularlylighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and thelike, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a target, meanscomprising a plurality of angularly disposed arms associated with saidtarget for directing a line projected adjacent said target to an openingfor receiving the line, and means comprising a plurality ofspring-expansible grappling arms passing into said opening for grapplingsaid line.

6. Means for assisting the mooring of air-ships, particularlylighter-than-air air-ships, such as zeppelins, blimps, balloons and thelike, which comprises, in combination, a structure, a rotatable target,means comprising a plurality of angularly disposed arms associated withsaid target for directing a line projected adjacent said target to anopening for receiving the line, and means comprising a plurality ofspringexpansible grappling arms passing into said opening for grapplingsaid line.

NOEL STATHAM.

